One Harrogate street has been keeping spirits high during the coronavirus lockdown by getting involved in a daily exercise class.

“Right. Now some squats,” Mel Milnes bellowed out at around 8.30am on Spring Grove to a group of around 20 eager participants.

The classes started out with just one side of the street a couple of weeks ago before the rest of the neighbours wanted to get involved.

From then it has become a daily ritual at the same time from Monday to Friday.

Mel is not pretending to be a fully qualified fitness instructor but, then again, this isn’t an intense fat burning class.

She told the Stray Ferret: “Each day we have been getting more and more people involved. It’s just meant to be a bit of fun, it’s just a bit of a laugh and the street has really enjoyed it. We are self-isolating but the street has gotten closer together. We are even organising a pub quiz later this week, which we’re all going to do from our gardens.”

Mel has led many of the classes but she has also got other people lined up for the microphone, with an eight-year-old girl trying it out tomorrow.

How has your street adapted to life on coronavirus lockdown? Get in touch with the news team on contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.

2nd April 2020
Fitness class on Spring Grove, Harrogate

2nd April 2020
Sue Riley leads the fitness class on Spring Grove, Harrogate

2nd April 2020
Fitness class on Spring Grove, Harrogate

2nd April 2020
Fitness class Spring grove

Local authorities in North Yorkshire are planning to build a temporary mortuary for a “reasonable worst case scenario.”

The North Yorkshire Resilience Forum will not disclose the location of the mortuary but said it would be away from residential properties.

Other towns and cities have started to build mortuaries in parks, former RAF bases and near hospitals to cope with an increase in coronavirus-related deaths.

So far, six patients who tested positive for COVID-19 have died at Harrogate District Hospital with 163 confirmed cases in North Yorkshire.

Richard Flinton, chair of the North Yorkshire Resilience Forum, told the Stray Ferret that they were preparing for all scenarios

“Alongside the provision of PPE, the implementation of a new health and social care model to free up critical care beds in hospitals, supporting businesses to access government funds, providing child care for key workers and coordinating the huge community response effort – additional mortuary facilities have been sourced in case they are needed.

“The venue is within the county of North Yorkshire and away from residential properties. While we very much hope these will not be required it’s important to plan for a reasonable worst case scenario.

“As a multiagency team we applaud the efforts to date of the people of our beautiful county in sticking strictly to the Government guidance relating to the lock down and we appeal to them to continue to do that for as long as it takes. We can all play our part in protecting the NHS and helping to save lives.”

It comes as the NHS confirms that Harrogate’s Nightingale hospital will have up to 500 beds available to care for coronavirus patients.

Army and NHS staff toured the site of Harrogate’s new Nightingale Hospital on day three of construction.

When it is up and running, which could be possible over the next week, it will help the NHS deal with the coronavirus pandemic.

Three temporary ‘Nightingale’ hospitals have already been announced – in London, Manchester and Birmingham – with more understood to be in the planning stages.

Although the NHS has not yet revealed full details about the project, an announcement is expected imminently.

It comes as the number of confirmed cases in North Yorkshire has risen to 149, with six deaths at Harrogate District Hospital.

2nd April 2020
Construction at Harrogate Conference Centre

2nd April 2020
Construction at Harrogate Conference Centre

2nd April 2020
Convention Centre Harrogate, new signage

2nd April 2020
Convention Centre Harrogate, construction work outside the Royal Hall

2nd April 2020
Harrogate Convention Centre

2nd April 2020
Harrogate Convention Centre

2nd April 2020
Harrogate Convention Centre

2nd April 2020
Harrogate Convention Centre

2nd April 2020
MOD arrives at Harrogate Convention Centre

2nd April 2020
Fleet of Emergency vehicles arrives at Harrogate Convention Centre

2nd April 2020
Emergency staff arriving at Harrogate Convention Centre

Individuals, schools and businesses have all rallied behind healthcare workers on the frontline in the battle against coronavirus.

Since the pandemic started, people have donated masks, hand cream and even freshly cooked meals to ease the pressure on healthcare workers.

The staff at Harrogate and District Hospital are said to be “blown away” by the generosity.

It comes as a further two patients who tested positive for coronavirus have died at Harrogate District Hospital, bringing the total up to six deaths.

Sid Lovatt has donated face masks he made with his 3D printer.

Julie Mills set up a Facebook group just over three weeks ago called ‘Supplies for Key Workers in and Around Harrogate’ and has been working day and night to coordinate donations.

She told the Stray Ferret: “We started off by getting food for all of the healthcare workers when people were panic buying at supermarkets. Then we saw that the hospital needed medical supplies, so we got hundreds of masks, gloves and some overalls. Now we are working on getting ventillators into the hospital. We have got to keep healthcare workers going through their shifts.”

Some of the donations made to healthcare workers

• Greek takeaway Mykonos Bar & Grill recently delivered 154 Greek main meals along with desserts and drinks to the hospital
• Local Sid Lovatt decided to put his 3D printer to use and has made lots of masks for care homes and hospital staff
• Harrogate Grammar School’s design department has also put its 3D printer to use by making masks
• Taylors of Harrogate sent the hospital 8,000 coffee and tea bags

The local community has donated so much food to staff that the hospital has created a pop-up shop, where staff can pick up essentials for free.

https://twitter.com/harrogatehcc/status/1245438594581508098

A spokesperson for Harrogate hospital said:

“We’ve been blown away with the generosity of people and businesses from Harrogate and beyond who have donated so many food items, meals, hand creams and other non-perishable items to colleagues at the Trust. It’s really appreciated and it’s been so heartwarming to see the community come together in this way in support of your local NHS. Thank you.

“One part of this support that could potentially cause some issues for us is the delivery of already-cooked meals. We kindly ask that from now on, we are unable to accept already-cooked meals from businesses or individuals. We are providing breakfast, lunch and dinner to staff free of charge, so colleagues do have access to hot meals.”

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in North Yorkshire has risen to 149, with six deaths at Harrogate hospital.

It goes up at a time when the signage also goes up at the new ‘Nightingale Hospital.’

Construction workers, NHS and army staff have been working flat out to convert part of the Harrogate Convention Centre.

On day three of the build, workers installed the hospital signage for the staff and ambulance entrances.

Lots of work is going on outside the Harrogate Convention Centre.

When it is up and running, which could be possible over the next week, it will help the NHS deal with the coronavirus pandemic.

Three temporary ‘Nightingale’ hospitals have already been announced – in London, Manchester and Birmingham – with more understood to be in the planning stages.

Although the NHS has not yet revealed full details about the project, an announcement is expected imminently.

It comes as the number of confirmed cases in North Yorkshire has risen to 149, with six deaths at Harrogate District Hospital.

Work is ramping up at the new ‘Nightingale’ hospital, which will be built at the Harrogate Convention Centre.

Construction, NHS and army staff were all on-site again today to quickly turn part of the centre into a new surge hospital.

When it is up and running, which could be possible over the next week, it will help the NHS deal with the coronavirus pandemic.

Three temporary ‘Nightingale’ hospitals have already been announced – in London, Manchester and Birmingham – with more understood to be in the planning stages.

Harrogate Convention Centre

Harrogate Convention Centre

Harrogate Convention Centre

Harrogate Convention Centre

Harrogate Convention Centre

Harrogate Convention Centre

Harrogate Convention Centre

Harrogate Convention Centre

Harrogate Convention Centre

Harrogate Convention Centre

Harrogate Convention Centre

Harrogate Convention Centre

Harrogate Convention Centre

Harrogate Convention Centre

Harrogate Convention Centre

Harrogate Convention Centre

Harrogate Convention Centre

Harrogate Convention Centre

Harrogate Convention Centre

Harrogate Convention Centre

Two more patients with coronavirus have died at the hospital in Harrogate, bringing the total number up to six since the start of the pandemic.

One of the patients died on March 29 and the other died on March 31.

It’s unclear how old the patients were or whether they had any underlying health conditions, but they were between the age of 13 and 99.

The NHS announced today that a further 486 people who tested positive for COVID-19 have died, bringing the total deaths in England up to 2,137.

All of their families have been informed. 20 of the 486 had no known underlying health conditions.

Ripon Rugby Club has been left devastated and feeling numb, following the sudden death of club treasurer and long-term supporter Jonathan Rutter.

He died in Harrogate Hospital last week after contracting coronavirus. The club is planning to hold an event in his memory when the coronavirus crisis is over.

A Harrogate theatre has launched an emergency appeal and invited people to sponsor its seats.

With coronavirus forcing Harrogate Theatre to cancel its shows for the foreseeable future, the 120-year-old venue now faces “a very uncertain future.”

The theatre has asked people to make a donation, buy tickets for the autumn and winter shows, join its membership scheme and now to sponsor a seat.

It costs £600 to sponsor a seat or £1000 a pair for a five-year term.

That money gets an engraved gold plate featuring the sponsor’s name, with a certificate and invitation to a thank you event a the theatre.

“And now we’re levelling with you – we have never needed your support more than we do today. None of us are entirely sure what the next few weeks and months hold, but the one thing we know is that when all the dust has settled, we want to still be here to bring that joy that everyone will so desperately need.”

The army has started work to convert part of the Harrogate Convention Centre into a ‘Nightingale’ hospital.

NHS and army staff are both on-site today as the basic building blocks were being delivered to create what the NHS refer to as a “surge” hospital move into place.

When it is up and running, which could be possible over the next week, it will help the NHS deal with the coronavirus pandemic.

Although the NHS has not yet revealed full details about the project, an announcement is expected imminently.

Three temporary ‘Nightingale’ hospitals have already been announced – in London, Manchester and Birmingham – with more understood to be in the planning stages.

So far, three patients with coronavirus have died at Harrogate District Hospital, while the number of confirmed cases in North Yorkshire is now at 108.

The government has cancelled all weddings, including those across the Harrogate district, to tackle coronavirus.

For existing bookings that are postponed or cancelled, revised wedding dates will be accepted from September 1, 2020.

New bookings can now only be made from January 1, 2021.

In three weeks time, the government will review the decision to suspend weddings and the service will contact all affected couples.

Those with the soonest ceremonies will be given priority.

North Yorkshire County Councillor Greg White, the Executive Member for Customer Engagement, said:

“We realise people will be disappointed at having to postpone their wedding plans. We are also sure that they and their guests will understand just how important it is for all of us to heed the directive to stay at home as we all play our part in tackling the Covid-19 outbreak.”

The registration service has also suspended appointments to register births and asked residents to register deaths over the phone.

It’s unclear when appointments to register births will resume but residents can still make a claim for child benefit or universal credit.

Those wishing to register a death must do so over the telephone as offices will be shut to personal callers.

When doctors have sent the medical certificate of cause of death by email, they can make a telephone appointment.

Following the call, forms for the undertaker and a formal death certificate will be sent in the post.

Those who have a paper copy of the medical certificate from the doctor can drop the envelope through a letterbox at one of the offices or by email.